Page 49 of Compromise & Consequence
“They are minor nobility. Distant cousins, but close enough Elizabeth had to send notice to the Spanish Ambassador advising him of her marriage for royal court documents in Spain to be updated.”
“Are they aware of how the marriage came about?”
“No, details such as this are not important, but be advised, now that you are in town, expect a visit from the ambassador. He is a diligent correspondent, even after Elizabeth’s grandfather passed away. I think he took a liking to our girl.”
“Should I be concerned about his interest?”
Bennet laughed out loud.
“The ambassador is happily married and his wife also adores Elizabeth. She is often invited to dinner at Hertford House whenever she is in London and Lizzy was to travel with them to Spain this summer.”
“There is so much I never knew.”
“True, and there is more if you can stomach some bitter news.” Bennet pulled the lanyard by his bookcase and the butlersoon knocked on the door. “Griggs, would you ask Hill to find Jane and have her join us? Tell her to bring Miss Bingley’s letter.”
“Yes, sir,” Griggs nodded politely before closing the door.
Bennet did not say much more and read through the legal document again. A soft knock on the door was the only thing that had him lift his head.
“Enter,” he called out and Jane Bennet entered the room, surprise etched on her normally calmfaçadeat the sight of Darcy seated across from her father.
“You asked for me, Papa?”
“I did, Jane. You brought the letter?”
“Yes.”
Bennet held out his hand and she, quite unwillingly if Darcy had to hazard a guess, handed it over. At his nod, she took the chair next to Darcy’s.
“Mr. Darcy, you may wonder why I asked Jane to bring this letter. Normally, I would not share information passed between my daughter and an acquaintance, but you said there was so much you did not know. As you wish to make amends to my family and Elizabeth, I cannot, in good conscience, allow you to continue in ignorance. You should know what your so-called friends do behind your back.”
With that, he handed Darcy the letter. Miss Bennet started to object, but quickly closed her mouth tight, although her eyes welled up with a hint of tears.
“Miss Bennet. I will not read this letter if it grieves you this much.”
“I do not grieve for myself, Mr. Darcy. I worry for Mr. Bingley. I do not wish you to view him in a bad light.” She touched the edge of her eye with a trembling finger. “Please do as Papaasked. He would not have done this if it was not important.”
Darcy cut them each a glance before reading what Caroline Bingley had written after the fateful night of the ball. With each word, with each paragraph, his anger rose. The gall of that woman, to openly declare her brother and Georgiana were as good as engaged and thathisfamily rejoiced in the connection! He fought the urge to crumple the letter into a tight ball and consign it to the fire.
Keeping his anger reined in tight, he handed the letter back to Miss Bennet. A full five minutes passed before he could trust himself to speak.
“There is not, nor has there ever been, an understanding between Mr. Bingley and my sister. I am confident he is not aware of what Miss Bingley wrote.” He dared look Bennet in the eye. “You could have let me flounder and make a complete fool of myself, but you chose to tell me the truth.”
“Whether I like you or not, you are now my nephew and we protect those who belong to us.”
“Mr. Bennet, I never thought I would ever say these words, but I am glad to be counted as a member of your family.”
Bennet gave him a wry smile and seemed as though he was about to comment when the jangle of harnesses could be heard coming up the drive.
“Would you be willing to meet more family before you depart, Mr. Darcy?”
“Call me Darcy, and yes, I would like to meet anyone Elizabeth holds dear.”
The three exited the study and proceeded to the front of the house. A large carriage had, by this time, come to a halt and an outrider jumped off to pull down the steps and open the carriage door.
Darcy was impressed by the fine conveyance and wondered who these people of some means were to the Bennet family. The first to emerge was a gentleman, bearing a strong resemblance to Mrs. Bennet although younger by a few years. He turned around and gave his hand to a woman, attired in a very becoming travel ensemble. A second carriage trundled in behind them and from it tumbled four children who, though excited, didn’t rush screaming to their parents, but did hasten toward Miss Bennet and hugged her.
The smile that wreathed Miss Bennet’s face astonished him. He had never seen anything but calm emanating from her person. It may have been the first time he realized how beautiful a woman she was. No wonder Charles was lost in her presence. Briefly, Darcy’s thoughts clouded with anger over the Bingley siblings. They had behaved as badly as him, and Caroline had stepped over the line. He would deal with her when he returned to London.
